Traffic Rules Portugal

What you should know and observe for a safe drive on the roads in the Algarve, Portugal

Travel Information

Traffic Rules

What to observe when driving in Portugal

Emergency numbers

Standard European emergency number = 112

Exception: In the case of forest fire = 117

Speed ​​limits

Within towns: 50 km / h

Outside towns: 90 km / h

Motorway: 120 km / h

Direct road access to highways: 100 km / h

Tolls

Since December 2011, the A22 motorway has been subject to tolls right from Lagos up to the Spanish border. A modern monitoring system determines the costs for each car, depending on the distance travelled and the class of the vehicle.

Legal limit of blood alcohol while driving

Currently, you can only drive in Portugal with a level of less than 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood. Given the high number of road accidents, this is constantly debated in parliament.

Traffic priority rules

If there is no sign to the contrary, the general rule is: vehicles coming from the right have priority over those coming from the left. Attention on roundabouts: You can only enter the roundabout after giving way to vehicles already on it.

Mobile phones

The use of mobile phones by drivers while driving is only allowed if it is a hands free system or an earpiece is used.

Seat belts

Throughout any journey, the driver and all passengers in vehicles must wear seat belts

Minors

Children under the age of 5 years must be in child car seats for any journey.

Minors under the age of 12 years must be seated in the back of the car.